Kneeler and supporting bracket



June 8, 1965 w. HAHNLEIN KNEELER AND SUPPORTING BRACKET Filed June 24, 1963 INVENTOR. IVI/ANN 8 Mcm/WML 3,188,140 KNEELER AND SUPPORTNG BRACKET William Halinlein, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Hamlin Manufacturing Co., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California Filed .lune 24, 1963, Ser. No. 290,040 8 Claims. (Cl. 297-426) of-,the-Way` position of non-use so as to provide walking -space between the pews or rows of seats. i f

With the conventional kneeler, there is a continual problem of the proba-bility of distracting noi-se during the conduct of religious services as a result of inadvertent impact of the kneeler against the oor. While, as generally constructed, the kneelers are comparatively of light weight, nevertheless the weight is sutlicient that should the kneeler be inadvertently Ireleased during its movement from a position of -use to a position of non-use, the force of gravity will motivate the kneeler towards the use position, with a resulting impact against the oor. Distracting noise might also be caused by the kneeler being inadvertently displaced lfrom its raised or non-use position by the feet of a person sitting in the pew to which the kneeler is attached.

Attempts have heretofore been made to provide mean-s for controlling the kneeler movement such as by the use of a hydraulic cylinder, but in the main these arrangements have been rather complicated and expensive and have othenwise not proved to be entirely satisfactory.

Havin-g the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present inventio-n to provide a simple improved mounting bracket structure which may be utilized `for pivotally supporting at least one of the end arms of the kneeler, and when so utilized will provide a substantially balanced force opposing the action of gravity, this force being further so arranged that movement of the kneeler `from one po-sition to the other may be more easily facilitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting bracket which is so :arranged that it may be easily accommodated for installation with kneele-rs having end arms of different length.

It is also an object of the present invention to incorporate in the supporting bracket an improved arrangement which permits axial yadjust-ment of the supporting 'pivot pin for the kneeler end arm, and in which dillerent strength springs may be readily interchanged to accommodate changes in the gravitational action due to differences in kneeler construction and design.

Further objects of the inventionwill be brought out in the following part of the specication, wherein detailed description is tor the purpose of fully disclosing the invention vwithout placing limitations thereon. Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional View of a pew or seat showing the manner in which the supporting bracket is utilized to attach the kneeler, and wherein the kneeler is shown infull lines in a position of use, and the raised nonuse position is shown in phantom lines; l

FIGURE 2 is afragmentary top plan view showinglthe relationship of the bracket and end arm of the kneeler, the kneelerbeing in the full line position as shown in FIG- URE 1;

-aUnid State-s Patent fmlCe 3,188,140 i yPatented June 8, 1,965

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the same, taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4. is a vertical sectional view through the pivotal axis, taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail transverse section through the end arm of the kneeler and associated bracket connection, taken substantially on line 5 5 of FIGURE l.

Referring generally to the drawings, tor illustrative purposes, the present invention is shown as being utilize-d with a conventional church pew 10 having a seat portion 11 and back portion `12 supported upon a plurality of vertical supports 13 (one shown) which are in spaced apart relation longitudinally of the pew. Y

The kneeler which is disclosed is of conventional construction, and as shown in FIGURE 1 may include an elongate cushioned bench 14 supported upon a fra-me structure, as generally indicated at 15.

'Ihe frame structure y15 is provided with depending supporting legs l16 (one shown) which are placed at desired spaced intervals between'the ends of the bench for supporting the bench in its position of use. End arms 17 (one shown) are respectively provided at the ends of the bench, these arms extending in general at right .angles t0 the legs 16 and provision being made for pivotally attaching Ithe outer-most ends of these arms to spaced vertical supports 13 to permit pivotal swinging movement of the kneeler to a lowered extended position of use as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, and to a raised out-of-the-way position of non-use as 1shown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 1`. It will be appreciated that conventional pivot pin supporting brackets may be utilized to pivotally support the end arms of the kneeler for pivotal movement. However, the conventional pivots. do not provide the inherent advantages as are obtainable by the utilization of a supporting bracket constructed according to the concepts of the present invention, which will now be described.

The bracket of lthe present invent-ion comprises a lixed arm 18 secured to an adjacent vertical support 13, and a pivotally connected lswingable arm 19 attached to an end arm 17 of the kneeler.

More specifically, the xed arm is in the form of an elongate member 20 which .is arranged lfor face engagement with the at surface of a vertical support13 to which it may be attached as by fastening screws 21 in an inf clined position upwardly and away from the pivoted end of the associated end arm 17. The upper end of member 20 is formed with a projecting stop pin 22, this pin being iitted with a collar 23 of rubber or other suitable material to provide a bumper for the end arm 17, when the kneeler is in its non-use position, as shown in FIG. 1f

The other end of member 20 is provided with a projecting tubular boss 24 which is internally threaded to receive a mount-ing bushing 25 which fforms an axially adjustable support for a pivot pin 26, the bushing having threaded engagement with the internal threads on the boss 24 and having a head portion 27 arranged to receive a wrench or other tool by which the bushing may be rotated. The pivot pin 26 is adapted to provide a pivotal mounting for the end arm 17 and extends through a bore passage `28 therein as shown in FIG. 4. If desired, a bushing insert 29 of a suitable plastic or other material may be used to provided a long wearing bearing between the endarm and the pivot pin 26.

The swingable arm of the mounting bracket of the present invention comprises an elongate member 30 which has integrally formed at one enda cupped portion 31 containing a bottom aperture 32 adapted to receive a reduced end portion 33 of the boss 24 therein and under the retention of the head portion 27 of the bushing provides a pivotal support for this end of the elongate memarsenite ber 3Q. The cupped portion 3l coacts with the boss 24 to form an annular cavity 34 within which there is housed a coiled spring 35, one end 36 of this spring being anchored to the elongate member 20, as shown in FIG. 3, and the other end 37 being anchored within a retaining groove of the elongate member 30.

The other end of the elongate member Sti is provided with an end side ange 33 containing a plurality of threaded openings 39 by means of which an attaching clip 4% may be selectively secured by a retaining bolt 41 to the associated end arm 17 at different distances from the pivot pin 26. As shown in FIG. 5, the attaching clip 40 is constructed with a hook-like edge margin 42 which is adapted to engage a longitudinally extending flange of the end arm 17. This adjustment permits the connection of the bracket arm 30 to end arms 17 of kneelers in which these end arms may vary somewhat as to length and details of construction.

With reference to the oper-ation, as shown in FIG. 1 the kneeler may be moved to occupy a position of use as shown in full lines or raised to a non-use position as shown in phantom lines. During the movement between these positions, the kneeler will pass through a vertical center line extending above the pivot .pin 26. The spring 35 is designed to have a loading force which will substantially balance the gravitational eect on the kneeler as it approaches the use position. On the other hand as the kneeler is raised, the spring will be substantially deenergized at the pivot center line, which extends above the pivot pin 26, and movement of the kneeler to its iinal non-use position, as shown in phantom lines, against the stop collar 23 will be motivated substantially entirely by the action of gravity. With this arrangement, the kneeler may be easily initially moved from its non-use position, and when it passes the center line, will move under the force of gravity towards its position of use. However, as the kneeler moves towards its position of use, it will be increasingly resisted by the action of the spring. Since the kneeler `is substantially balanced in its use position, it may be easily initially moved towards its non-use position. Should one inadvertently release the kneeler during its initial movement from a use position, dropping impact against 4the tloor will be substantially eliminated. Moreover, if the kneeler is accidentally displaced from it -non-use position, the loading spring will keep the kneeler from moving into impact engagement with the door, and eliminate the creation of undesirable noise.

Various modications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

I claim:

l. In a kneeler supported for swinging movements to an extended substantially horizontal lowered position of use and to an out-of-the-way raised position of nonuse:

(a) an arm support for the kneeler;

(b) means for pivotally attaching said arm at one end to an associated pew structure for swinging movements through a vertical center line directly above the pivot -axis to locate the kneeler in its use and non-use positions respectively on opposite sides of the center line; and

(c) means including a loading spring acting on said arm in a direction to oppose the action of gravity with -an increasing force during movement of the kneeler substantially from said vertical center line toits use position.

2. In a kneeler supported for swinging movements to an extended lowered position of use and to an out-of-theway raised position of non-use:

(a) an arm support for the kneeler;

(b) means pivoting said arm at one end for swinging movements through a vertical center line directly above said pivot to locate the kneeler in its use and non-use positions respectively on opposite sides of the center line, the kneeler being actuated by gravity towards said positions respectively upon positioning the arm on one side or the other of the center line; and

(c) a coiled spring surrounding said pivot, said spring having one end ixedly a-nchored and its other end .connected with said arm so as to act on said arm to oppose with increasing force movement ott the kneeler under the action of gravity when moving from said center line towards its use position.

3. Attaching means for a kneeler mounted for swinging movements to an extended lowered position of use and to an-out-of-the-way raised position of non-use, said kneeler having an end arm support, said means comprising:

(a) a bracket arm adapted to be mounted on a at surface, said arm having a projecting cylindrical boss;

(b) a pivot member extending axially from said boss, said member'being adapted to provide a pivotal support for the kneeler end arm;

(c) a swingable bracket arm rotatably mounted at one end on said boss;

(d) means for connecting the other end of the swingable bracket arm to the kneeler end arm at a point outwardly of said pivot member; and

(e) a coiled spring surrounding said boss, one end of said spring being Vconnected to the fixed bracket arm, and the other end being connected to the swingable bracket arm.

4. Attaching means for a kneeler mounted for swinging movements to an extended lowered position of' use and to an out-of-the-way raised position of non-use, said kneeler having an end arm support, said means comprising:

(a) a bracket arm adapted to be mounted on a at surf-ace, said arm having a projecting cylindrical boss;

(b) a pivot member extending axially from said boss, said member being adapted to provide a pivotal support for the kneeler end arm;

(c) a swingable bracket arm rotatably mounted at one end on said boss;

(d) means for selectively connecting the other end of the swingable bracket arm to the kneeler end arm at any one of a plurality of points having varied radial distances outwardly of said pivot member; and

l(e) a coiled spring extending concentrically of said boss, one end of said spring being connected to the xed bracket arm, and the other end being connected to the swingable bracket arm.

' 5. Attaching means for a kneeler mounted for swinging movements to an extended lowered position of use and to an out-of-the-way raised position of non-use, said kneeler having an end arm support, said means comprising:

-(a) a bracket arm adapted to be xedly mounted on a iiat surface, said arm having a projecting cylindrical boss;

(b) a pivot member extending axially from said boss to provide a pivotal support for the kneeler end arm, said member being axially adjustable within said boss;

(c) a swingable bracket arm rotatably mounted at one end on said boss;

(d) means :for connecting the other end of the swingable bracket ar'm to the kneeler encl arm at a point youtwardly of said pivot member; and

(e) a coiled spring positioned concentrically of said boss, one end of said spring being connected to the fixed bracket arm, and the other end being connected to the swingable bracket arm.

6. Attaching means for a kneeler mounted for swinging movements to an extended lowered position olf use and to an out-of-the-way raised position of non-use, said kneeler having an end arm support, said means cornprising:

(a) a iixed bracket arm having a projecting cylindrical boss at one end and a stop projection at its other end;

(b) a pivot member extending axially from said boss, said member being adapted to provided a pivotal support for the kneeler end arm;

(c) a swingable bracket arm rotatably mounted at one end on said boss;

(d) means for connecting the other end of the swingable bracket arm to the kneeler end arm at a point radially outwardly of said pivot member; and

(e) a coiled loading spring surrounding said boss, one end of said spring being connected to the fixed bracket arm, and the other end being connected to the swingable bracket arm.

7. Attaching means for a kneeler mounted for swinging movements to an extended lowered position of use and to an out-orfahe-way raised position ot non-use, said kneeler having an end arm support, said means comprising:

(a) a fixed bracket arm having a projecting cylindrical boss;

(b) a pivot member extending axially from said boss, said member being adapted to provide a Apivotal -support for the kneeler end arm;

(c) a swingable bracket ar mhaving a cupped end rotatably mounted on said boss and cooperating therewith to form an annular cavity surrounding the boss;

(d) means for connecting the other end of the swingable bracket arm to the kneeler end arm at a point radially outwardly of said pivot member; and

(e) a coiled spring in said cavity, one end of said spring being connected to the fixed bracket arm, and the other end being connected to the swingable bracket arm. c

8. Attaching means for a kneeler mounted for swinging movements to an extended lowered position of use and to an out-o'f-the-way raised position of non-use, said kneeler having an end arm support, said means comprising:

(a) a fixed bracket arm adapted to be mounted on a fiat surface, said arm having a projecting cylindrical boss;

(b) a piv-ot member extending axially from said boss, said member being vadapted to provide ra pivotal support for the kneeler end arm;

(c) means for axially adjustably positioning said pivot member with respect to said boss;

(d) a swingable bracket arm having a cupped end rotatably mounted on said boss and cooperating therewith to form an annular cavity surrounding the boss;

(e) means for selectively connecting the other end of the swingable bracket arm to the kneeler end arm at a plurality of points having diiferent radial distance spacings from said pivot member; and

(f) a coiled spring in said cavity, one end of said spring being connected to the fixed bracket arm, and the other end being connected t-o the swingable bracket arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,460,791 2/ 49 Bernhard 297-426 2,892,488 6/59 Frost 297-426 3,102,757 9/63 Higgins 297--426 3,107,122 10/63 Jacobi 297--426 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A KNEELER SUPPORTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTS TO AN EXTENDED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LOWERED POSITION OF USE AND TO AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY RAISED POSITION OF NONUSE: (A) AN ARM SUPPORT FOR THE KNEELER; (B) MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY ATTACHING SAID ARM AT ONE END TO AN ASSOCIATED PEW STRUCTURE FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTS THROUGH A VERTICAL CENTER LINE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE PIVOT AXIS TO LOCATE THE KNEELER IN ITS USE AND NON-USE POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CENTER LINE; AND 